Method and device for preparing liquid

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device and method for preparing liquid from solid materials such as medicinal materials. It includes liquid and materials for preparing the liquid at the beginning and the end of the process. The device uses a steam generator, an intermediate switch valve and a material chamber, which are connected sequentially with pipes, and further includes an outlet pipe, which is at the bottom of the material chamber. The method involves the steps of: distillation and absorption; immersion; and repetition. The device and method for preparing liquid alternates the distillation and immersion steps, which reduces harmful substance in the prepared liquid that would otherwise occur by conventional methods. The method not only extracts soluble effective matter, but also reduces loss of volatile effective matter. Ultimately, the method makes the steps for preparing liquid simple and clear, and it can prepare liquid quantitatively, effectively and without pasty and shrinkable characteristics. The device may be automatically controlled by an electric control circuit, thereby avoiding operational errors that are common with manually operated, conventional devices.

This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 ofInternational Application PCT/CN2003/001086, filed Dec. 18, 2003, whichclaims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 03113538.2, filed Jan.6, 2003. The International Application was published under PCT Article21(2) in English.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technology for extracting effectivesubstances from solid materials to prepare liquid and more in particularto a device and method to replace the traditional “boiling” method forpreparing liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People usually extract effective substances from solid materials toprepare liquid, such as boiling medicinal materials and cooking soup. Aconventional method for preparing liquid mainly uses a “boiling” method;i.e., put raw materials into water, heat the water so that the effectivesubstances in the materials are released under the function of hightemperature and dissolved into the water that becomes a liquidcontaining effective substances of the materials. This method isrelatively quite complicated. In order to fully extract the effectivesubstances in the materials, people usually carry out a control, in viewof actual situations, of quantity of added water, boiling time, quantityof remained water and fire power. These operations are difficult tocarry out successfully without rich experience. For each type ofmaterials, these operations need to be adjusted according to differencesof environment and actual situations. Even though an experienced personkeeps monitoring these operations, the prepared liquid may becomeconcentrated and the materials burnt to be unusable due to hisaccidentally careless behavior. Thus, automatic control for theseoperations is difficult to achieve. Meanwhile, the originally addedwater may gradually evaporate in the process of boiling and thenon-volatile harmful substances will be accumulated in the preparedliquid which is harmful to human bodies if the liquid is used fordrinking. In addition, the volatile effective substances may bevolatilized into the air in the process of boiling, which causes amountdecrease and waste of effective substances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparinga liquid to reduce the harmful substances in the prepared liquid, toincrease amount of volatile effective substances, and further tosimplify and automate the process of liquid preparation to avoid causingprepared liquid unusable.

The method includes the steps of preparing liquid and materials forpreparing liquid at the beginning and obtaining prepared liquid at theend, and further includes the following featured steps of:

(1.1) Distillation and Absorption:

-   -   The distillation refers to heating materials in a sealed space        with an outlet at the bottom thereof by providing high        temperature steam to the sealed space so that the materials can        release volatile substances and soluble substances. The        absorption refers to the absorption of the volatile substances        by the high temperature steam which is pressed out of the        outlet;

(1.2) Immersion:

-   -   The immersion refers to dissolving the soluble substances in        step (1.1) in the liquid which is pressed into the sealed space        through the outlet or a defined inlet by the air pressure        created when stopping delivering the high temperature steam to        the sealed space to allow the steam with high temperature in the        sealed space to cool down to water so that the sealed space air        pressure becomes negative with respect to the outside of the        sealed space.

(1.3) Repetition:

-   -   The repetition refers to providing high temperature steam to the        sealed space to increase the air pressure therein so as to press        the liquid out of the sealed space through the outlet. Redo step        (1.2) and step (1.3) according to specified requirements.

In accordance with a feature of the method in this invention, the liquidis water or water solution dissolving said volatile substances andsoluble substances, and the sealed space includes an intermediatematerial layer with variable thickness for liquid preparation, a hollowupper layer, a lower layer and a web plate to separate the intermediatematerial layer from the lower layer.

In accordance with another feature of the method in this invention, hightemperature steam with certain pressure in step (1.1) is introduced intothe upper layer of the sealed space, goes through the pore spaces ofmaterials in the intermediate material layer, distills the materials,enters into the lower layer together with the volatile substances, andis forced out through the outlet.

In according with another feature of the method in this invention, theperiod of time for a distillation and absorption may be set for 0.3 to10 minutes and the period of time for a immersion may be set for 0.3 to8 minutes.

In according with another feature of the method in this invention, thespecified requirements in step (1.3) refers to ending step (1.3) when arepeating times is more than the predetermined times which is equal toor more than twice, otherwise redoing step (1.1) and step (1.2).

In according with another feature of the method in this invention, thespecified requirement in step (1.3) refers to ending step (1.3) when thematerials for liquid preparation is found to primarily finish releasingthe volatile and soluble substances and when the volatile and solublesubstances are dissolved and absorbed by the liquid, otherwise redoingstep (1.1) and step (1.2).

In according with a feature of the device in the invention, the deviceincludes a steam generator 2, an intermediate switch valve 6, amaterials chamber 8, which are connected sequentially with pipes, andfurther includes an outlet pipe 10 at the bottom of the material chamberand a liquid container 11 into which the outlet pipe extends. Steamgenerator 2 for producing high temperature steam includes a housing 17,a heater 1 inside the housing, a water level controller 3 at the upperportion of the housing, a sealing cap (4) on water fill inlet at the topand a pressure valve 5 at the top. Materials chamber 8 for holding thematerials for liquid preparation includes a top sealing cap 7, an outletpipe 10 at the bottom thereof and a separation web plate 16. Liquidcontainer 11 is used to hold water 12 to dissolve and absorb thevolatile substances and soluble substances. The intermediate switchvalve 6 controls entry of the high temperature steam into materialschamber 8.

In according with another feature of the device in the invention, thedevice also includes a bypass return pipe 13 wherein one end thereof isconnected to outlet pipe 10 and the other end thereof is connected tothe upper portion of material chamber 8, a one-way valve 15 connectedbetween outlet pipe 10 and material chamber 8, and a one-way valve 14connected between bypass return pipe 13 and material chamber 8.

In according with another feature of the device in the invention, thesteam generator 2 shown in FIG. 1 further includes a water intakedevice, shown schematically as (WID) 18, a water intake switch, shownschematically as (WIS) 19, water level controller 3, intermediate switchvalve 6, heater 1 and an electric circuit, shown schematically as (EC)20 for testing and automatically controlling water intake.

The object of the device and the method for liquid preparation in thisinvention is to reduce harmful substances in the liquid prepared in thetraditional methods, to fully extract soluble effective substances, andto decrease the loss of volatile effective substances. It is a furtherobjective of this invention to simplify and specify the methods ofliquid preparation to allow the liquid preparation to be quantified, notpasty and concentrated, and with high efficiency. Meanwhile it uses theelectric testing and controlling circuit to perform automation controlwhich overcomes the disadvantages of the boiling methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of a standard liquid preparation deviceprovided by this invention.

FIG. 2 is a structure diagram of a liquid preparation device with bypassliquid return pipe provided by this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The method for preparing liquid provided by this invention, mostimportantly, includes a process of distilling the liquid preparationmaterials to release effective substances thereof and meanwhilecollecting the volatile substances therein, and a process of collectingthe soluble substances therein. These processes are repeated. Thismethod can be achieved by utilizing the following devices under the airpressure theory. Together with the figures and embodiments, the methodof this invention is further described.

First, the device for this invention is described as follows:

This device can be a standard liquid preparation device as shown in FIG.1 including steam generator 2, materials chamber 8 connected to thesteam generator through pipes, intermediate switch valve 6 between steamgenerator 2 and materials chamber 8, liquid container 11 placed belowmaterials chamber 8, and outlet pipe 10 at the bottom of materialschamber 8 extending into the water solution in liquid container 11.Steam generator 2 includes the heater 1 on the inside lower portionthereof, water level controller 3 on the upper portion of the housing,and sealing cap 4 and pressure valve 5 at the top thereof. Materialchamber 8 includes top sealing cap 7, outlet pipe 10 at the bottomthereof and separation web plate 16. One end of the pipe opens at theupper portion of steam generator 2 and the other end opens at the upperportion of materials chamber 8.

This device can also be a liquid preparation device with a bypass returnpipe as shown in FIG. 2. Bypass return pipe 13 has one end opening onoutlet pipe 10 at the bottom of materials chamber 8 and the other endopening on the upper portion of materials chamber 8. A one-way valve 15through which steam is pressed out is placed between outlet pipe 10 andmaterial chamber 8. A one-way valve 14 through which liquid is pressedin is placed between bypass return pipe 13 and material chamber 8.Liquid container 11 generally refers to containers holding liquid,including glasses, basins, jars, buckets, pots, and some specialcontainers.

Furthermore, the liquid preparation process for using this device isdescribed as follows:

-   -   a) Work flow: As the water in steam generator 2 is heated to        boiling to produce high temperature steam, intermediate switch        valve 6 is opened to allow steam to enter into material chamber        8; With the propulsion of the steam produced afterwards, the        steam goes down, distills the liquid preparation materials, and        absorbs the effective substances; The steam containing the        effective substances enters into outlet pipe 10 through which it        is guided into liquid container 11 where the steam dissolved        into the water therein to become water solution 12; After        intermediate valve 6 is closed (also the steam generator can        stop operation at the same time), the steam in the material        chamber 8 cools down to cause negative pressure in the materials        chamber. Under the air pressure, water solution 12 in liquid        container 11 is pressed into material chamber 8 to immerse the        materials; After intermediate switch valve 6 is opened again        (steam generator 2 may be started at the same time), the steam        is allowed to enter into material chamber 8 again. Since the        steam pressure becomes greater than the outside air pressure,        the water solution in which the materials have been immersed is        pressed back from material chamber 8 into liquid container 11;        then, the steam enters into the solution to create a cycle. This        cycle runs repeatedly until an appropriate effect is achieved.    -   b) Detailed procedures (taking standard liquid preparation        device as an example):        -   Before use: fill in steam generator 2 with water, mount and            screw tightly sealing cap (4), put the liquid preparation            materials in material chamber 8, mount and screw tightly            sealing cap 7, and then fill in liquid container 11 with a            certain amount of water enough to allow the portion thereof            higher than the bottom end of outlet pipe 10 to submerge            liquid preparation materials 9 and to open intermediate            switch valve 6.        -   During use: heater 1 in steam generator 2 is supplied with            power to heat water to boiling to generate steam; The steam            enters into material chamber 8 through pipes and            intermediate switch valve 6 and distills liquid preparation            materials 9 to make liquid preparation materials 9 to            release the effective substances in which the volatile            effective substances mixes with the steam to form medicine            steam; The medicine steam is guided into water solution 12            in liquid container 11 through outlet pipe 10; After a            period of time passed, intermediate switch valve 6 is closed            and meanwhile heater 2 can also be close to allow the steam            in material chamber 8 to cool down to water, which cause a            negative pressure in material chamber 8; under the air            pressure, the water solution in liquid container 11 is            pressed into material chamber 8 to immerse the materials in            material chamber 8 and to dissolve soluble effective            substances released from the material. After a certain            period of immersion, intermediate switch valve 6 is opened            again and heater 1 is supplied with power at the same time            to have the steam once again to enter into material chamber            8; under the steam pressure, the solution with effective            substances in material chamber 8 is pressed back into liquid            container 11 through outlet pipe 10; and then the            distillation is repeated; After several repetitive            operations of closing and opening of intermediate switch            valve 6, the effective substances in liquid preparation            materials 9 are fully released in the required water            solution.        -   After use: when the water solution in material chamber 8 is            fully pressed out in the process of distillation, first turn            off the power of heater 1 to stop heating then close            intermediate switch valve 6 and then take out the prepared            liquid; The steam in steam generator 2 cools down to allow            pressure valve 5 to automatically open under the negative            pressure to have air in it so as to balance the air pressure            between inside and outside of steam generator 2 and material            chamber 8 to complete the whole workflow processes.        -   Further, separation web plate 16 in material chamber 8 can            prevent the liquid preparation materials from blocking the            outlet pipe and allow the steam and volatile substances to            be pressed out of the outlet easily water level controller 3            is used to make sure that the water in steam generator 1 is            enough to submerge heater 2 for safety if there is an            accidental path blockage causing the air pressure in steam            generator 2 to increase, pressure valve 5 will automatically            open to release pressure to avoid accidents intermediate            switch 6, water level controller 3 and heater 1 can be            tested and controlled electrically. Moreover, in this            invention, based on different materials, amount of materials            and different purposes, the time of distillation varies            widely from 0.3 to 10 minutes every distillation and that of            immersion varies widely from 0.3 to 10 minutes every            immersion and the process must be repeated at least twice.            According to actual situations, we can preset the time of            distillation and immersion and the repeat times and add            electrically controlled water intake device and water intake            switch to steam generator 2 to automatically test the water            level of water level controller 3. When water is less, the            water intake switch is opened automatically by an electric            control circuit to allow water to enter into steam generator            2. At the beginning of distillation, the electric control            circuit automatically opens intermediate switch valve 6 and            supply powers to heater 2 at the same time (steam generator            2 starts to generate steam). After the distillation ends,            the electric control circuit automatically closes            intermediate switch valve and turn off the power of heater 1            (steam generator 2 stops to generate steam) to start            immersion process. The electric control circuit repeats the            above-mentioned process to automate the liquid preparation            process only by putting in materials and filling water in            liquid container 11. The materials and water are prepared            according to amount.

The invention is further illustrated by means of the following examples,which represent preferred embodiments in various fields:

-   -   a. New type Chinese traditional medicine machine        -   The device of the invention can be used as a Chinese            medicine machine for preparing Chinese medicinal liquid with            high effectiveness (because of containing more volatile            effective substance) and more favorable to human body            because the invention requires no boiling to prevent the            water from concentration and also can be basically            quantified to avoid wasting materials, burning medicines and            drying pot. The Chinese medicine machine can also use            process control technologies at the same time, which is            convenient for operation and allows a person without any            experience to prepare Chinese medicinal liquid with good            quality.    -   b. New type medicated bath machine        -   The device of the invention can also be used as a medicated            bath machine to prepare liquid from medicinal materials,            which is prepared into bath liquid together with other            ingredients or is delivered to a bathtub. To deliver            medicine liquid for various of medicated baths, the liquid            container can be used as the container for bathing and the            outlet pipe can be used as conduit put into the container            for bathing.    -   c. Various kinds of new type automatic soup cookers        -   The device of this invention can be used as an automatic            soup cooker when the liquid container is used for holding            soup with nutritious substance extracted from solid            foodstuff such as poultry.    -   d. New type equipments for production of various kinds of        beverages.        -   The device of this invention can be used to extract liquid            from solid foodstuffs such as fresh fruits, dried fruits,            subsidiary foodstuff, and medicinal materials for preparing            the high-effectiveness and convenient beverage.

1. A device for preparing a liquid that comprises volatile and solublesubstances comprising: a steam generator for generating steam with hightemperature comprising housing, a heater inside the housing, a waterlevel controller at the upper portion of the housing, a sealing cap fora water fill inlet and a pressure valve; a material chamber for holdingthe material comprising a sealing cap, an outlet pipe at the bottomthereof, and a separation web plate; an intermediate switch valveconnected between the steam generator and the material chamber, which isused for controlling entry of the steam with high temperature into thematerial chamber; a liquid container for holding the water in which thevolatile and soluble substances are dissolved and absorbed, into whichthe outlet pipe extends; a bypass return pipe, wherein one end thereofis connected to the outlet pipe and the other end thereof is connectedto the upper portion of the material chamber; a one-way valve connectedbetween the outlet pipe and the material chamber; and a one-way valveconnected between the bypass return pipe and the material chamber. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein the steam generator further comprises awater intake device (WID), a water intake switch (WIS), and an electriccircuit (EC) for testing and controlling water intake.
 3. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the device is a device for preparing a medicinalliquid.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the device is a device forpreparing medicated bath liquid.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein thedevice is a device for preparing soup.
 6. The device of claim 2, whereinthe device is a device for preparing beverage for drinking.
 7. A devicefor preparing a liquid that comprises volatile and soluble substancescomprising: a steam generator for generating steam with high temperaturecomprising housing, a heater inside the housing, a water levelcontroller at the upper portion of the housing, a sealing cap for awater fill inlet, a pressure valve, a water intake device (WID), a waterintake switch (WIS) and an electric circuit (EC) for testing andcontrolling water intake; a material chamber for holding the materialcomprising a sealing cap, an outlet pipe at the bottom thereof, and aseparation web plate; an intermediate switch valve connected between thesteam generator and the material chamber, which is used for controllingentry of the steam with high temperature into the material chamber; anda liquid container for holding the water in which the volatile andsoluble substances are dissolved and absorbed, into which the outletpipe extends.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a devicefor preparing a medicinal liquid.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein thedevice is a device for preparing medicated bath liquid.
 10. The deviceof claim 7, wherein the device is a cooking device for preparing soup.11. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a device for preparingbeverage for drinking.
 12. The device of claim 1 or 7, wherein saidsealing cap for said water fill inlet is at the top of the steamgenerator.
 13. The device of claim 1 or 7, wherein said pressure valveis at the top of the steam generator.
 14. The device of claim 1 or 7,wherein said sealing cap on said material chamber is on top of thematerial chamber.